2019 WFC Warriors look ready to win

With a core featuring a lot of juniors and sophomores in high-responsibility roles, the 2018 Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell baseball team took serious strides toward developing into the type of ballclub for which veteran skipper Todd "Bubs" Hoffman was hoping.

Now with nine returning letterwinners and plenty of experienced upperclass leadership, the 2019 Warriors look poised to put together a winning campaign — and maybe a little more — this spring.

"There are a lot of lettermen, and I think we have a pretty solid group of seniors this year," said Hoffman. "Several of them have played on varsity before where this is their third or even fourth year, so there's a lot of experience in those positions coming back."

With Hjerpe expected to carry much of the pitching load at the top of the rotation followed closely by Voytko and Ewing, WFC's planned starting rotation looks to be in place, with Hoffman commenting he has "some very nice arms to work with." Jenkins, Sibert, Dodge and Sass should see some significant time on the bump too, with Derossett, Miller, Boyles and Bressi also potential hurlers.

Sibert was a solid backstop last year and looks to share time behind the plate this spring with Simpson. Miller, Albertson and Boyles look to be potential first basemen, Dodge returns at the hot corner backed by Boyles and Watson, and the middle infield will include some combination of Jenkins, Hjerpe, Derossett and Bressi.

Out in the outfield, Ewing in center and Voytko in right look to be shoo-ins when they're not on the mound. Simpson, Sass, Watson, Moranville and a few other players are fighting for time in the grass.

When things get going — whenever the weather allows it — Hoffman seems to be expecting a good, fun year ... hopefully one with more wins than losses.

"I definitely expect to compete," he said. "We have so much experience coming back this year, game experience. We took that first step last year, I thought, and overall as a program got better. This year I expect us to take it to the next level. It remains to be seen conference-wise (in the Tri-County) where we fit in ... but the experience factor, I think, is going to help us out a lot.

"It's a nice group of kids this year. Good camaraderie, and they just seem to mesh real well. I think it's going to be a fun group to be around."

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ROSTER

No. Player Pos. Yr.

1 Aiden Boyles IF/P So.

2 Kyle Voytko OF/P Sr.

3 Trevor Derossett IF/P Jr.

6 Tyler Jenkins IF/P Sr.

7 Cody Dodge IF/P Jr.

8 Collin Hjerpe IF/P Sr.

9 Carl Sass P/Util. Fr.

10 Brad Simpson C/OF Jr.

11 Mason Ewing OF/P Jr.

13 Keegan Boldt C/IF Fr.

14 Triston Watson IF Sr.

15 Clayton Sibert C/P Sr.

16 Christian Miller IF/P Jr.

17 Nolan Bressi IF/P So.

20 Jake Albertson OF Sr.

23 Mikey Moranville OF Sr.

21 Jake Hutton C/IF Fr.

22 Will Weber C/OF Fr.

27 Phoenix Cooper OF Fr.

Head coach: Todd "Bubs" Hoffman (8th season)

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